The Centre for Enterprise Development (CED), through its Youth Business and Entrepreneurship Training (YOUBET) programme, will host a half-day Youth Business Forum on Thursday, 19 November, under the theme “From Idea to Reality”, aimed at encouraging and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue entrepreneurship.
The forum will take place at the Methodist Wesley Hall in Kingstown from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It will bring together thirty (30) students from five Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with each institution represented by six students.
The initiative forms part of CED’s ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of youth entrepreneurship and nurturing the next generation of Vincentian business leaders. Through the forum, students will be introduced to key aspects of entrepreneurship, including business planning, market validation and the process of transforming their ideas, talents and competencies into viable and sustainable business ventures.
Officer in Charge at CED, Ms. Keisha Phillips, underscored the organisation’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people to explore entrepreneurship and develop their business potential.
“CED remains committed to fostering a culture of youth entrepreneurship in St. Vincent and the Grenadines by encouraging young people to recognise the business potential in their ideas, talents and skills. Over the years, we have maintained a strong collaborative relationship with TVET institutions, recognising that technical and vocational training provides an important foundation for entrepreneurship. Through this partnership, we continue to support students who are interested in taking their skills beyond the classroom and turning them into business opportunities. This forum is another step in strengthening that relationship and empowering our young people to see entrepreneurship as a viable pathway for their future,” Ms. Phillips stated.
The forum will officially commence with an opening ceremony featuring remarks from Ms. Phillips and Mrs. Pearlette Primus-Hannaway, Senior Education Officer responsible for TVET in the Ministry of Education.
By connecting technical and vocational competencies with entrepreneurial knowledge and practical business guidance, CED hopes to inspire students to explore self-employment, innovation and enterprise creation as pathways to economic participation and personal development.
The selected students are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity to gain valuable insights into starting and developing a business.
